Job interview techniques that really work

After putting in the hard work of tweaking your CV, writing personalised cover letters, and sending off multiple applications, you did it! You got through to an interview. But now what? If you’re new to the interview game or just need some handy advice to give your confidence a boost, we’re here to run through some of the best interview techniques that will ensure you succeed in your upcoming interview.  

Preparation techniques  

Preparing for an interview is really important. You want to make sure you go into the interview feeling confident and knowledgeable. Here are just a few interview tips and techniques that’ll ensure you have all the information you need before the big day.  

Practice example interview questions at home 

Lots of the questions may be related to the job you are interviewing for, but there are tons of common interview questions that can come up repeatedly that you can prepare for ahead of time. These are usually questions related more to you, your career goals and your personal goals so think about some strong answers for each that you can reel off if asked.  

Some of the most common questions to prep for are: 

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?  
• How does your experience apply to this role?  
• How do you handle stress? 
• How do you manage your workload?  
• How do you see your career progressing in the next 5 years?  

You want to be prepared for competency-based interview questions that assess your skills. Interviewers ask these types of question to assess your past performance and gain key insights into how you’ll fit into their team. You might also want to prepare for some of the stranger interview questions too that could catch you off guard.  

Have questions to ask the interviewer  

Another technique to ensure you impress at your next interview is to always ask the interviewer questions. A hiring manager will usually ask if you have any questions for them at the end, and if you want to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job, it is good to have a few questions in the bank ready to ask.  

Good questions to ask include: 

• What would an average day look like in this role? 
• I know one of the company’s values is [company value] - how is this demonstrated in the working day?  
• Are there opportunities for professional development?  
• What is your favourite part of working for this company?  
• What are the next steps in the process for this position?  
   

Know the practicalities of the interview  

Ensure you’re comfortable with the practical arrangements of your interview ahead of time. Are you meeting the hiring manager in person? If you’re going in for a face-to-face interview, double check the location and journey times to ensure you get there on time. 

Or have they sent you a video interview link? If so, make sure your tech is up to scratch, compatible with the technology they want to use and that you have somewhere quiet you can go for the duration. No matter what type of interview you have been called for, make sure you know exactly where you need to be and when so that you have plenty of time to prepare. 

Interview techniques for answering questions like a pro 

Staying focused when you’re nervous can be hard, which can sometimes lead to our answers not coming across as clearly as we would like. To help combat this, the STAR method is a tried and tested interview technique that’s great for structuring your answers. Here’s how it works:  

Let’s say the interviewer asks you to explain a time you worked well under pressure. Here is how you would answer that clearly using the STAR interview technique.  

S = situation  

First you want to set the scene for your answer. Example the context behind why you were under pressure and the environment you were working in at the time.  

T = task  

Outline what was required of you and the task you were trying to complete.  

A = action  

Next, you want to describe what you did, the steps you took and the skills and personal attributes you used to complete the task despite the pressure you were facing.  

R = result 

Finally, you want to explain the outcome. Talk about what you personally accomplished and what you learned from the situation.  

This interview technique will ensure you always answer any interview questions in the most clear and concise way possible. Now, have a look over some of the worst interview mistakes to consider and avoid at your next interview.  

Be confident - you’ve got this!  

Our final interview tip is to not doubt yourself and to stay calm and confident. If you’ve followed all the above interview techniques, done your research, and put some time in to prepare then the rest should all fall into place. Interviews can be scary, but you’ve got to that stage because the company specifically want to meet you and find out more about you so try to enjoy it.  

Unlock more career advice to help you reach your full potential right here at Page Personnel. We’ve covered everything from how to perfect your CV structure to top tips on career progression so browse our extensive range of helpful articles today.  

Be the first to know about any upcoming job roles in your field by setting up email job alerts through the Page Personnel job search page.